Colorado

Maverix Broadband pushed back on claims the company has misused millions of dollars in public funding that resulted in the Colorado Broadband Office freezing all projects linked to the company, including rescinding a federal grant for more than $100 million. The report caught the Parker-based internet provider off guard because they had been responding and providing hundreds of documents to state officials for months, said David Lindauer, the company’s cofounder.

The Colorado Broadband Office announced recent actions taken to protect taxpayer funds following an inquiry into the misuse of state and federal broadband grant funding by Maverix Broadband, Inc. After receiving whistleblower reports, CBO took quick action to freeze payments to Maverix, launch an inquiry, move to terminate six active grants, and rescind more than $100 million in provisionally awarded Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment funding that has not gone out yet. 

Brandy Reitter, the executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office since February 2022, stepped down after giving the agency two days’ notice. “Yes, unfortunately, OIT received Brandy’s resignation. She will be missed and we appreciate her service to the state,” Erin Jeffreys, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Information Technology, home to the broadband office, said in an email.

U.S. states and territories are making progress on their broadband goals this summer. A number of state-run initiatives have been launched, and several infrastructure projects are in full swing. While it's easy to have all eyes on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program—and, hypocritically, more on that later—there are countless other actions states are taking to ensure robust broadband access and universal digital adoption. From infrastructure planning to deployment to increasing awareness and resources, states are doing it all.

Conexon Connect submitted compliance reports for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund locations in Mississippi, Florida, Missouri, Louisiana, Kentucky, Colorado, Arizona, Tennessee, and Illinois. Conexon Connect delayed its RDOF buildout in some states until state broadband offices finalized Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) Program funding decisions. This delay, the company believes, was prudent because Conexon Connect’s network would require modification to account for any new BEAD-funded areas.

The grant application window for Advance-Local Middle-Mile Projects is now open through June 29, 2026, marking a critical step in bridging Colorado’s connectivity gaps. Applications for Last-Mile, Short-term Construction, and Non-deployment projects will follow this summer. Prospective applicants can find guidelines, webinar recordings, and portal access on the Advance-Local webpage. For additional support, register for biweekly office hours starting May 14.

The Colorado Broadband Office has officially announced the award recipients for the 2025 Advance Colorado Mini Grant Program. Following a surge in interest, the program saw $6.4 million in funding requests, highlighting the significant demand for localized broadband and infrastructure support. Eight grantees were selected to complete 12 projects. The grantees are:

Commnet Wireless submitted a Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II build-out status notification for locations in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. Commnet was required to deploy 100 percent of its authorized locations in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada by December 31, 2025. Commnet’s initial data, which the company is continuing to review, shows that as of December 31, 2025, Commnet may not have reached the CAF Phase II deployment milestone in Arizona, and has not met the milestone in Colorado, Nevada or New Mexico.

President Trump’s executive order to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence is a dangerous overreach of power that will only make it more difficult to keep our communities safe while promoting innovation. While AI has enormous potential to increase productivity and grow our economy, this unilateral action weakens Colorado’s ability to protect children and consumers. Congress can and must pass bipartisan legislation that supports AI development while protecting the American people.

The Colorado Broadband Office is thrilled to announce that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has officially approved Colorado’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Final Proposal.